The 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference football season, part of the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season, was the 73rd season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The entire schedule was released on January 27, 2025.
The SMU Mustangs were the defending regular season champions and the Clemson Tigers were the defending champions.
Preseason
Recruiting classes +National rankings Team ESPN Rivals 24/7 On3 Recruits Total signeesBoston College 55 54 59 59 27California 56 65 70 56 18Clemson 37 32 26 23 15Duke 34 31 30 34 27Florida State 39 17 19 20 23Georgia Tech 31 23 21 24 25Louisville 24 66 68 68 16Miami (FL) 11 13 14 14 21North Carolina 45 41 26 43 27NC State 42 39 34 36 23Pittsburgh 46 48 51 54 22Stanford 68 59 56 57 17SMU 14 28 31 31 23Syracuse 36 38 42 50 35Virginia 52 58 58 60 19Virginia Tech 46 36 40 38 20Wake Forest 56 59 63 62 22
ACC Kickoff The 2025 ACC Kickoff was held from July 22 through 24 at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina. Coverage of the three day event was televised by the ACC Network. The event was reduced from four days to three days in 2025.
The schedule for the teams is as follows:
July 22CaliforniaMiami (FL)SMUStanfordVirginia
July 23Florida StateGeorgia TechLouisvillePittsburghSyracuseWake Forest
July 24Boston CollegeClemsonDukeNorth CarolinaNC StateVirginia Tech
Preseason media polls
On July 30, 2025, the league released the preseason poll as voted on by 183 media members during ACC Kickoff.
1Clemson 3,083 (167) 2Miami (FL) 2,679 (7) 3SMU 2,612 (2) 4Georgia Tech 2,397 (2) 5Louisville 2,370 6Duke 1,973 7Florida State 1,920 (4) 8North Carolina 1,611 9Pittsburgh 1,571 10NC State 1,505 11Virginia Tech 1,412 (1) 12Syracuse 1,381 13Boston College 953 14Virginia 871 15California 659 16Wake Forest 576 17Stanford 426
Preseason ACC Player of the year
Source:
1 Cade Klubnik QBClemson 146 2 Haynes KingGeorgia Tech 9 3 Kevin JenningsSMU 5 4 Carson BeckMiami (FL) 4 Kyron DronesVirginia Tech 6 Isaac Brown RBLouisville 3 7 Quintayvious Hutchins DEBoston College 2 CJ Bailey QBNC State Eli HolsteinPittsburgh Kyle Louis LB Desmond Reid RB 12 Lewis Bond WRBoston College 1 Jamal Haynes RBGeorgia Tech
Preseason all-conference teams
Source:
Offense
Quarterback Cade KlubnikClemson 148 Running back Isaac BrownLouisville 99 Jamal HaynesGeorgia Tech 85 Wide receiver Antonio WilliamsClemson 143 Bryant Wesco 66 Chris BellLouisville 51 Tight end Justin JolyNC State 92 All-Purpose Desmond ReidPittsburgh 73 Tackle Francis MauigoaMiami (FL) 99 Blake MillerClemson Guard Keylan RutledgeGeorgia Tech 93 Walker ParksClemson 51 Center Ryan Linthicum 44
Defense
Defensive end T.J. ParkerClemson 152 Rueben Bain Jr.Miami (FL) 92 Defensive tackle Peter WoodsClemson 142 Darrell Jackson Jr.Florida State 56 Linebacker Kyle LouisPittsburgh 98 Wade WoodazClemson 77 Sammy Brown 76 Cornerback Avieon Terrell 129 Chandler RiversDuke 106 Safety Isaiah NwokobiaSMU 86 Terry MooreDuke 81
Specialist Placekicker Collin RogersSMU 67 Punter Jack StonehouseSyracuse 70 Specialist Desmond ReidPittsburgh 68
Preseason awards
All–American Teams
AP 1st Team AP 2nd Team AS 1st Team AS 2nd Team AS 3rd Team AS 4th Team WCFF 1st Team WCFF 2nd Team ESPN 1st Team ESPN 2nd Team CBS 1st Team CBS 2nd Team SN 1st Team SN 2nd Team USAT 1st Team USAT 2nd Team Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (FL) Rasheem Biles, LB, Pittsburgh Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville Justin Joly, TE, NC State Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL) Keelan Marion, KR, Miami (FL) Blake Miller, OL, Clemson Terry Moore, S, Duke Isaiah Nwokobia, S, SMU Brian Parker, OL, Duke T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson Desmond Reid, AP, Pittsburgh Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech Collin Rogers, K, SMU Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson Wade Woodaz, LB, Clemson Peter Woods, DT, Clemson Bryant Wesco, WR, Clemson Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Preseason award watchlists
Lott Trophy Rueben Bain Jr.Miami (FL) DE Jr. Kyle LouisPittsburgh LB Jr. T. J. ParkerClemson DE Jr. Chandler RiversDuke CB Sr. Peter WoodsClemson DT Jr. Dodd Trophy Dabo SwinneyClemson HC Brent KeyGeorgia Tech Jeff BrohmLouisville Mario CristobalMiami (FL) Maxwell Award Cade KlubnikClemson QB Sr. Antonio Williams WR Jr. Darian MensahDuke QB So. Thomas CastellanosFlorida State Sr. Haynes KingGeorgia Tech Jamal Haynes RB Sr. Miller MossLouisville QB Sr. Isaac Brown RB So. Carson BeckMiami (FL) QB Sr. CJ BaileyNC State So. Eli HolsteinPittsburgh So. Desmond Reid RB Sr. Kevin JenningsSMU QB Jr. Chandler MorrisVirginia Sr. Kyron DronesVirginia Tech Terion Stewart RB Sr. Demond ClaiborneWake Forest Davey O'Brien Award Cade KlubnikClemson QB Sr. Darian MensahDuke So. Haynes KingGeorgia Tech Sr. Miller MossLouisville Carson BeckMiami (FL) Sr. Kevin JenningsSMU Jr. Chandler MorrisVirginia Sr. Doak Walker Award Alex BroomeBoston College RB So. Jordan McDonald Sr. Jaquez MooreDuke Gavin SawchukFlorida State Jr. Jamal HaynesGeorgia Tech Sr. Isaac BrownLouisville So. Duke Watson Davion GauseNorth Carolina Hollywood SmothersNC State Desmond ReidPittsburgh Sr. Derrick McFallSMU Fr. Sedrick IrvinStanford Jr. Will NixonSyracuse Sr. Yasin Willis So. Xavier BrownVirginia Jr. Terion StewartVirginia Tech GS Demond ClaiborneWake Forest Sr. Biletnikoff Award Bryant WescoClemson WR So. Antonio Williams Jr. Eric RiversGeorgia Tech Sr. Chris BellLouisville Sr. Justin JolyNC State TE John Mackey Award Jeremiah FranklinBoston College TE Sr. Randy Pittman Jr.Florida State Jr. Landen Thomas So. Elija LoftonMiami (FL) Justin JolyNC State Sr. Matthew HibnerSMU GS RJ Maryland Sr. Sam RoushStanford Benji GosnellVirginia Tech Jr. Rimington Trophy Ryan LinthicumClemson C GS Matt CraycraftDuke So. Luke PetitbonFlorida State Sr. Pete NygraLouisville Jr. James BrockermeyerMiami (FL) Sr. Austin BlaskeNorth Carolina Lyndon CooperPittsburgh Addison NicholsSMU Jr. Brady WilsonVirginia Tech GS
Butkus Award Sammy BrownClemson LB So. Wade Woodaz Sr. Stanquan ClarkLouisville Jr. Wesley BissaintheMiami (FL) Sr. Andrew SimpsonNorth Carolina Sr. Rasheem BilesPittsburgh Jr. Kyle Louis Jr. Caleb WoodsonVirginia Tech Jr. Jim Thorpe Award Avieon TerrellClemson CB Jr. Terry MooreDuke S Sr. Chandler Rivers CB Isaiah NwokobiaSMU S Bronko Nagurski Trophy T. J. ParkerClemson DE Jr. Avieon Terrell CB Peter Woods DT Chandler RiversDuke CB Sr. Rueben Bain Jr.Miami (FL) DE Jr. Kyle LouisPittsburgh LB Jr. Isaiah NwokobiaSMU S Sr. Outland Trophy Blake MillerClemson OT Jr. Peter Woods DT Brian Parker IIDuke OT Jr. Keylan RutledgeGeorgia Tech G Sr. Anez CooperMiami (FL) Francis Mauigoa OT Jr. P. J. WilliamsSMU So. Lou Groza Award Nolan HauserClemson K So. Collin RogersSMU Sr. John LoveVirginia Tech Jr. Ray Guy Award Jack StonehouseSyracuse P Jr. Paul Hornung Award Jacob De JesusCalifornia WR Sr. Antonio WilliamsClemson Jr. Peyton JonesDuke RB Jr. Isaac BrownLouisville So. Keelan MarionMiami (FL) WR Sr. Hollywood SmothersNC State RB So. Kenny JohnsonPittsburgh WR Jr. Demond ClaiborneWake Forest RB Sr. Wuerffel Trophy Alex BroomeBoston College RB Jr. Jeffery JohnsonCalifornia TE Sr. Adam RandallClemson RB GS Chandler RiversDuke CB Sr. Richie Leonard IVFlorida State OL Sr. Haynes KingGeorgia Tech QB Clev LubinLouisville DL Francis MauigoaMiami (FL) OT Jr. Will HardyNorth Carolina DB GS Brandon ClevelandNC State DT Sr. Eli HolsteinPittsburgh QB So. Alexander KilgoreSMU LB Jr. Sam RoushStanford TE Sr. Derek McDonaldSyracuse LB Sr. Stevie BraceyVirginia Sr. Tyson FlowersVirginia Tech DB Jr. Zamari StevensonWake Forest Walter Camp Award Cade KlubnikClemson QB Sr. Peter Woods DT Jr. Jamal HaynesGeorgia Tech RB Sr. Isaac BrownLouisville So. Carson BeckMiami (FL) QB Sr. Kyle LouisPittsburgh LB Jr. Demond ClaiborneWake Forest RB Sr. Jet Award Keelan MarionMiami (FL) WR Sr. Chris CulliverNorth Carolina So. Kenny JohnsonPittsburgh Jr. Patrick Mannelly Award Ben MannBoston College LS Sr. Curtis CooperDuke GS Mason ArnoldFlorida State Sr. Shai KochavLouisville Adam BookerMiami (FL) Jr. Spencer TriplettNorth Carolina Sr. Bryce RobinsonVirginia GS Christian EplingVirginia Tech Jr.
Bednarik Award Cade UluaveCalifornia LB Jr. T. J. ParkerClemson DE Avieon Terrell CB Peter Woods DT Terry MooreDuke S Sr. Chandler Rivers CB Darrell Jackson Jr.Florida State DT Kyle EffordGeorgia Tech LB Jr. Rueben Bain Jr.Miami (FL) DE OJ Frederique Jr. CB So. Sean BrownNC State LB Sr. Caden Fordham Rasheem BilesPittsburgh Jr. Kyle Louis Isaiah NwokobiaSMU S Sr. Rotary Lombardi Award Sammy BrownClemson LB So. Blake Miller OT Sr. T. J. Parker DE Jr. Peter Woods DT Brian Parker IIDuke OT Jr. Keylan RutledgeGeorgia Tech OG Sr. Rueben Bain Jr.Miami (FL) DE Jr. Francis Mauigoa OT Kyle LouisPittsburgh LB Jr. Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award Aidan KeanaainaCalifornia DT Sr. Jordan Spasojevic-Moko OG Cade Uluave LB Jr. Sioape Vatikani OG Jr. Francis MauigoaMiami (FL) OT Jr. Keith GouveiaPittsburgh OG Sr. Simione PaleStanford Jr. Tevarua Tafiti LB Sr. Dallas AfalavaWake Forest DT Jr. Fa'alili Fa'amoe OT Sr. Manning Award Cade KlubnikClemson QB Sr. Haynes KingGeorgia Tech CJ BaileyNC State So. Kevin JenningsSMU Jr. Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Grayson JamesBoston College QB Sr. Cade KlubnikClemson Sr. Darian MensahDuke So. Thomas CastellanosFlorida State Sr. Haynes KingGeorgia Tech Miller MossLouisville Carson BeckMiami (FL) Sr. Eli HolsteinPittsburgh So. Kevin JenningsSMU Jr. Chandler MorrisVirginia Sr. Kyron DronesVirginia Tech Robby AshfordWake Forest Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Grayson JamesBoston College QB Sr. Brandon High Jr.California RB So. LJ Johnson Sr. Jamaal Wiley Jr. Cade KlubnikClemson QB Sr. Matt CraycraftDuke C Haynes KingGeorgia Tech QB Chad LindbergNorth Carolina OL Kevin JenningsSMU QB Jr. Johntay Cook IISyracuse WR Jr. Chandler MorrisVirginia QB Sr. Kyron DronesVirginia Tech
Head coaches
Pre-season changes In November 2024, prior to the season ending, the North Carolina Tar Heels fired head coach Mack Brown. On December 11, 2024, Bill Belichick was announced as Brown's replacement. On December 16, 2024, Dave Clawson resigned as head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Jake Dickert was hired as his replacement on December 18, 2024. On March 25, 2025, the Stanford Cardinal fired head coach Troy Taylor amid an investigation into bullying behavior. On March 31, 2025, Frank Reich was hired as interim head coach.
Head coaching records TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolACC recordBoston College Bill O'Brien 2 22–15 7–6 4–4California Justin Wilcox 9 42–50 42–50 2–6Clemson Dabo Swinney 17 180–47 180–47 109–24Duke Manny Diaz 2 30–19 9–4 21–12Florida State Mike Norvell 6 71–42 33–27 20–20Georgia Tech Brent Key 3 18–16 18–16 14–9Louisville Jeff Brohm 3 85–52 19–8 12–4Miami (FL) Mario Cristobal 4 84–76 22–16 12–12North Carolina Bill Belichick 1 0–0 0–0 0–0NC State Dave Doeren 13 110–69 87–65 47–51Pittsburgh Pat Narduzzi 11 72–56 72–56 46–36SMU Rhett Lashlee 4 29–12 29–12 8–0Stanford Frank Reich 1 0–0 0–0 0–0Syracuse Fran Brown 2 10–3 10–3 5–3Virginia Tony Elliott 4 11–23 11–23 6–17Virginia Tech Brent Pry 4 16–21 16–21 10–13Wake Forest Jake Dickert 1 23–20 0–0 0–0
Notes: Years at school includes 2025 season. Coaches shown are the coaches who began the 2025 season as head coach of each team.
Rankings
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol